Jennifer Kirk's blog: Now What? The End of an Athlete's Career.

Stay in the sport as a coach or commentator? Go back to school? Hollywood?

In the wake of the Nicole Bobek news, there has been a lot of chatter surrounding the choices an athlete makes after they leave the sport. There isn’t someone waiting at the edge of the ice telling a skater where to go or what to do once their career is over. It’s generally up to the skater, who, after spending the majority of their young life in an ice rink, has to quickly figure out what direction they should go once their skates are hung up. Unfortunately, many struggle with this transition back to “normal“ life.

Stay in the sport as a coach or commentator? Go back to school? Hollywood?

A coach may be one of the most natural paths given the level of expertise you have. A commentator may also feel natural and it would be fun that you still get media attention in some way. But I wonder if you could really make a living only as a commentator given that the number of events is limited. Perhaps they could become a sport commentator and commentate on other sports as well?

All the other choices seem like leading you to a totally new life. Hollywood would be difficult. Even Sasha wasn't successful.

Shizuka has had a very successful career after her retirement. The popularity of FS in Japan is helping her a lot, too. Ladies may have more choices like that. But men, perhaps a lot less.

This delemia is not relally unique to skating. A lot of sports, especially sports that are not played by college teams require the athletes to spend their teen years training and competiting, not going to school like "regular" kids. Skating is their whole world, so I would assume many don't know what they want to do. Maybe choose the glamourous (and usually unsuccessful careers of acting/modeling).
With coaching you can make some decent money, especially if you are a big name. I think all retired skaters coach at one time or another to earn some cash.

Going down the list, not many champion skaters have had sucessful careers outside skating. Debi Thomas is a Doctor and I heard that Tim Goebel was studying Economics at Columbia (he should be getting a good job), but no other come to mind.

Going down the list, not many champion skaters have had sucessful careers outside skating. Debi Thomas is a Doctor and I heard that Tim Goebel was studying Economics at Columbia (he should be getting a good job), but no other come to mind.

Sarah Hughes is currently at Yale Medical School, and will probably wind up working alongside Debi Thomas in another six or seven years.

Going down the list, not many champion skaters have had sucessful careers outside skating. Debi Thomas is a Doctor and I heard that Tim Goebel was studying Economics at Columbia (he should be getting a good job), but no other come to mind.

One skater I worry about is Miss Kwan. I know she has done some unpaid work for the State Dept. and has gone to college. But what will she actually do for a living? It's a good thing she had all those endorsement deals. I think one or two of them may still be in effect.

One skater I worry about is Miss Kwan. I know she has done some unpaid work for the State Dept. and has gone to college. But what will she actually do for a living? It's a good thing she had all those endorsement deals. I think one or two of them may still be in effect.

She would be a great liason for any business in America that wants to expand into China (or, more likely) any Chinese business seeking to expand over here. I heard somewhere that the grad school at Tufts (where she has been accepted) is geared to practical uses (anything from business to ambassadorships) as opposed to more academic (future university professors).

A lot of big name skaters have gone on to good careers. Dick Button was a lawyer (he negotiated Janet Lynn's contract with the ice shows -- first million dollar contract for a woman athlete); one of the Jenkins brothers was a vet; Tenley Albright was a doctor, also; Peggy Fleming -- commentator; Carol Heiss Jenkins -- coach; Kristi Yamaguchi -- charitable foundation.

One skater I worry about is Miss Kwan. I know she has done some unpaid work for the State Dept. and has gone to college. But what will she actually do for a living? It's a good thing she had all those endorsement deals. I think one or two of them may still be in effect.

Michelle Kwan is in a unique situation. She made millions from her skating career, so she does not have to worry about where her next meal is coming from in any case. She could continue to accept public service posts with or without pay, as she has under both the Bush and the Obama Secretary of States' offices. If she earns a graduate degree in foreign diplomacy, she will have many opportunities.

Attyfan's suggestion of working with businesses that want to expand into China, or Chinese business trying to enter the North American market is quite a realistic possibility as well. She already is in tight with the East-West Bank, which is the naming sponsor of the Kwans' ice arena. The primary business of this institution is to provide financial services to immigrant Chinese and Chinese Americans in California.

A couple of months ago Michelle was the welcoming speaker at the annual meeting of the "Committee of 100." This is a group of Chinese American business and civic high rollers which provides mentoring and networking for for young Chinese American entreupreneurs, among other services.

A lot of big name skaters have gone on to good careers. Dick Button was a lawyer (he negotiated Janet Lynn's contract with the ice shows -- first million dollar contract for a woman athlete); one of the Jenkins brothers was a vet; Tenley Albright was a doctor, also; Peggy Fleming -- commentator; Carol Heiss Jenkins -- coach; Kristi Yamaguchi -- charitable foundation.

Until the 90's, skaters really didn't anticipate being on ice beyond skating in an ice show for 4 years until the new Olympians took over.

Given the brevity of a skater's career, they, if anyone, should be realistic and aware that they'll have to make a decision sooner than most others. If anything, saving any money they've earned allows them a cushion to figure things out. However, the ones that squanderd the funds or didn't consider their future end up like Bobek.

Plus -- Otto Jelinek, 1962 figure skating pairs world champion with his sister Maria, went into Canadian politics after retiring from skating. He was elected to parliament from the riding of Halton (do they really have "ridings" in Canada? ), and served in several cabinet posts.

The foxsports link gave some explanations about why politics is a natural for athletes. Primarily, they already have positive name recognition (in most cases), and are already accustomed to dealing with unpleasant interviewers and other members of the press, not to mention the annoyances of celebrity.

Given a college education (not a requirement, but generally a good idea), politics is a good match.

Sarah Hughes is currently at Yale Medical School, and will probably wind up working alongside Debi Thomas in another six or seven years.

In the end, Sarah Hughes realized that studying for the medical degree would consume the entirety of her 20's, meaning that she would never be able to skate again. Fortunately, her family(which has a rigid tradition that everyone in the family must have an Ivy league degree) has accepted a compromise: Sarah Hughes studied for (and got) a degree in political science(a 6-year study), and her parents will now permit her to resume her skating career(probably professional, not competing) for the next 3 years, after which, she agrees to start studying to be an attorney.....like her father.

In the end, Sarah Hughes realized that studying for the medical degree would consume the entirety of her 20's, meaning that she would never be able to skate again. Fortunately, her family(which has a rigid tradition that everyone in the family must have an Ivy league degree) has accepted a compromise: Sarah Hughes studied for (and got) a degree in political science(a 6-year study), and her parents will now permit her to resume her skating career(probably professional, not competing) for the next 3 years, after which, she agrees to start studying to be an attorney.....like her father.